I doubt it will be enforced at scale. But, if someone with power has a beef with you, it can use an agent to search dirt about you and after sue you for whatever reason like copyright violation.
It will be enforced by $BIGCORP suing $OPEN_SOURCE_MAINTAINER for more money than he's got, if the intent is to stop use of the code. Or by $BIGCORP suing users of the open source project, if the goal is to either make money or to stop the use of the project.
Those who lived through the SCO saga should be able to visualize how this could go.
Ask Google for a certified mail address so you can send them the timeline of events that occurred. This is the shibboleth that lets them know you mean business and that by not responding, they may be facing legal action. DO NOT THREATEN or mention legal action. The managerial class doesn't act that way. Just signal you are building a case against them. Start with getting that certified mailing address... you may be surprised how they respond after just that request.
If they don't respond, keep following up. Send them a timeline of events, proof of ownership even if they do not ask you what you need to prove ownership. Make it clear what this is costing you.
But here's the thing, EVERY TIME I HAVE ASKED FOR A CERTIFIED MAIL ADDRESS, the globocorp gave me what i wanted, and I never had to follow up. Every time. They don't want to deal with actual legal action from "people who know what they are doing."
It's a shibboleth. Like "Baa-ram-ewe." Use it wisely and honestly.
Wow, that's a great read. Bookmarking and sending to others.
He points out how expressing all the natural human reactions - anger, fear, supplication, bargaining - tell the institution that you are a vulnerable, manipulable moron. The implacable robot that knows the process but doesn't care is what gets results.
You sue them. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to do so in small claims court, which is pretty inexpensive to do. Google cannot bring their usual insane level of legal resources to bear in this environment, and you will most likely win.
I'm a little confused here - you sue them, in small claims court, for not providing a service address?
How do you serve them without an address, for a claim of not providing an address?
I mean, I know what happens when I appear in court as the applicant/plaintiff, and tell the judge that the respondent/defendant was never served.
Okay, lets say the judge doesn't laugh my case out at that - how is my claim going to proceed? "I claim $X monies for not supplying me with their service address"?
(My understanding is that, by not providing a service address, all you can do is report them to specific bureaus, arbitration councils, etc. You cannot sue businesses, as far as I know, for not having or not providing a service address).
AFAIK them not providing an address is not the main point, it's them not collaborating on your case for a copyright infringement. The not providing an address is just more evidence of them not following on their responsibilities regarding the copyright infringement.
If you are in the US you can look up their official service address through the secretary of state for the state that you will be filing the lawsuit in. There is never a need for them to specifically provide you an official address.
And if you're filing a state case, and you know which county they are in, call the Sheriff. Every Sheriff's office deals with legal service on a routine basis. I've paid the Sheriff many times for serving complaints.
Snowballing. Sometimes it's ok to pick something easy, especially for a team, to get a small win first. If you're in debt, pay off the smallest amount first. Get the easy win. Build to the next.
And remember, you win by showing up each day, not by tilting at windmills.
reply